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Thursday, October 1, 2020

Recipe for Bulb Lasagna by Vicky Spelman

Courtesy: NC State Extension

It is planting layers of different bulbs in the same pot, creating a beautiful Spring display with the various bulb types blooming in secession. It will fill like the pot seemingly has perpetual color to welcome in Spring.

Plan to display your bulb pots where you’ll see them daily to enjoy this dramatic display.  Maybe by your doorway, by the mailbox, along the walkways or perhaps by your kitchen window.  

                                                                    Al's Garden & Home
                                                                 YouTube Demonstration

For three waves of bloom, you’ll need bulbs that bloom in early-spring, mid-spring, and late-spring. Different types of flower bulbs bloom at different times.  The bulb packages list this information on the labels.  When making bulb selections, consider choosing bulbs with overlapping bloom times so that the planting remains colorful all season.  Include grape hyacinths in the mix, for instance, as they bloom for weeks on end and will provide a colorful cobalt blue under-planting to mid-season daffodils, and continue to bloom in support of the late-season tulips too.  Other types to include crocus, daffodils, and tulips as the early, mid and late blooming bulbs, but any early-mid-late combo that you enjoy will work.


Courtesy of Reddit

 Pretend you are making lasagna:

Potting soil provides the layer (the sauce) under and over your bulbs.

1. Add some sauce (2-3 inches potting soil), add some bulb fertilizer, then your larger bulbs for the first layer (your late Spring bulbs).  Think daffodils, allium, or tulips.  Space the bulbs around ¼ to ½ inches apart.  

Don’t overcrowd, remember these bulbs are fairly well dehydrated and will swell once watering begins!  Potting soil provides the layer (the sauce) under and over your bulbs.

2. Add some more sauce (2-3 inches soil), add some more bulb fertilizer, then add your next bulbs. These would be the mid-season blooming bulbs: Jonquil narcissus, Dutch Hyacinths, etc.

3. Add more sauce (about 2-3 inches potting soil), add some bulb fertilizer, then your early blooming bulbs like crocus, grape hyacinth for example. 

4. Top off with some more sauce (approximately 4-5 inches of potting soil).  

5. You could add some pansies or other colorful cool weather annuals at the top.

6.   Now for the cheese (mulch).  Top dress the creation with mulch, and remember to water regularly while waiting for the show.

Gardenia-Creating Gardens

In choosing a pot, the larger the better so as to provide added insulation to the roots. In colder climates, freezing can be an issue so you may need to place your pot(s)in protected areas away from extreme cold and wind (against a house foundation, on a porch, or deck where they receive “radiant heat”, for instance).

Ready to plant your pot for a welcome Spring display?